It is almost 7 months since the Paul Nicholls trained
Alcala won the Worcester News Maiden Hurdle Div II , the last race of 2015 at
Pitchcroft.
The winter sent its usual mixed bag of weather, including
floods in January and February, endless grey rainy days, and latterly,
hailstones the size of golf balls, combined with unwanted overnight frosts.
Considering all the elements, the track is in great
condition for the start of the new season tomorrow, due in the most part to the
expertise of Estates Manager, Duncan Penny and his team.
This year, we warmly welcome a new Clerk of the Course to
Worcester. A keen horsewoman, Elizabeth
O'Flaherty brings over 10 years of experience of working in the racing industry.
Several facilities at the racecourse have benefitted from
investment over the winter. Visitors to
the Owners and Trainer's bar, the stable staff canteen, the medical room and
the centre course toilets will all notice upgrades.
We would like to congratulate 2015 Worcester leading
rider, Richard Johnson on being crowned Champion Jockey at Sandown in
April. Johnson is one of the most
supportive jockeys any racecourse could wish to work with. Nothing is too much trouble, be it a media
interview, a racecard signing or a photo with a sponsor in the parade
ring. We look forward to seeing him
defend his Pitchcroft title.
Jonjo O'Neill won the leading trainer title at Worcester
in 2015. O'Neill has always been a good
friend to Worcester Racecourse, and last year teamed up with Richard Johnson on
a number of successful occasions.
Casting an eye to the season ahead, the racecourse owner,
Arena Racing Company has increased the prize money on offer for many of the
races. The combination of good safe jumping
ground and better prize money will help to attract larger field sizes and
result in some really competitive racing for all to enjoy through the summer.
I make no excuse for discussing Worcester success stories
in my columns, and for celebrating horses who have tasted victory at Pitchcroft
and gone on to achieve greater things.
It's part of the thrill of why we all enjoy National Hunt racing.
Mention must go at this point to the Nigel Twiston-Davies
trained Ballyandy (pictured above) who made his racecourse debut under Ryan Hatch in the
Worcester Bumper on the 21st October last year.
The Kayf Tara gelding has now eared £72k in bumpers over the winter,
including the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Similarly, The Young Master, trained by Neil Mulholland
won his beginners chase at Worcester in September 2014, the only occasion he
was ridden by AP McCoy. The horse has
now amassed earnings of £188,831, including the 20 runner Bet365 Gold Cup at
Sandown last month.
You never know, when you see the hooves thunder up the
Pitchcroft home straight, whether you are witnessing a superstar in the making.
